Britain's former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband

Mr Miliband is sailing close to the wind in his anxiety to keep the unions sweet while trying to persuade the country that he is not their creature. At the TUC conference in Liverpool two weeks ago, he used a similar form of words, distancing himself from calls for a campaign of civil disobedience and maintaining that opposition to the cuts must be "responsible". However, when asked if he would attend a planned union rally in Westminster on October 19 – the eve of George Osborne's public spending statement – Mr Miliband said he would "definitely" be there. His brother David, whom he defeated for the leadership (and who yesterday announced he was quitting front-line politics) was more circumspect and rightly avoided giving such a commitment.

As demonstrated by yesterday's protests in Belgium and Spain, public sector trade unions are gearing up for a fight to halt or reverse the austerity packages being introduced by governments across Europe. The TUC has backed joint industrial action if "attacks" on jobs, pensions and public services go ahead. Mr Miliband might try to steer a path between responsible and irresponsible action, but if his promise of a new generation is more than hot air he must unequivocally disown these strike threats. He can begin by reneging on his pledge to attend the October 19 rally.